Words by Dionysis Nanos
After what feels like an eternity or more accurately described as a normal Undertaker entrance, we’re back, and what better way to signal the return from our summer vacation than to post our very first review on Motordiction! Yes it finally happened people, and while it’s not exactly a Ferrari or a Porsche Taycan (Psss Porsche… give us a call), it’s a car that most people can get behind of. Of course, as you aready know from the title, the car in question is the Hyundai i20 and to be more specific the one we drove was a diesel too… oh boy. More specifically it was the 1.1 litre diesel that develops a mighty 75 hp, but while that might sound depressing then you’re not quite right. See, the i20 isn’t an exciting car by any means, but I’ll let you in on a secret. The i20 is actually pretty good.
Let’s start from the looks, and I’m not going to bore you with the usual car journo vocabulary here so let’s cut to the chase. The looks are non existent. Yes it’s not an ugly car by any stretch of the imagination and with the right set of wheels and color combinations it can look nice but it just isn’t strong enough to make you look at it twice. Sure, no small car really is a great looker but that doesn’t mean we should just accept that as the only truth, especially when cars like the Peugeot 208 and the Nissan Micra are at least offering something different to the table. But hey, as I said, it’s not ugly and the shape is functional as it allows for a nice boot for supermini standards and also for good visibility when you’re actually behind the wheel. Speaking of which…
Grey really is the new black
So you jump in. You close the door with a nice thud and you’re met with the automotive equivalent of a loading screen. You get lost in the sea of grey plastic that is the dashboard, the seats, your life. To be fair, you can’t say it’s built on the cheap, as the materials are of high quality but it’s just so bland. Again, it’s not just the i20 that’s guilty of, as seemingly every supermini and hatchback out there has a similar interior. But to get back to the i20 the interior is good. Not amazing but not horrible. And it’s finally time to talk about driving and get ready for a surprise (or not really).
The driving experience in the i20 can only be described as relaxing. Everything is light. The steering, the gear change, the clutch, everything. You can push that diesel engine if you want but it just feels out of place. It’s definitely not a Fiesta rival, but who cares? People should stop comparing cars and just look at each one of them individually, plus if you are indeed buying an i20 chances are that driving dynamics aren’t on the top of your want list. But if you want a soft ride with good body control and effortless, albeit lifeless, steering then look no further. Also let me point out that the car we tested already had 40 thousand rough miles on the wrecked roads of the Greek countryside yet no rattles or shakes existed in the cabin, which tells me that people that are still making fun of Hyundai, should better focus at their Golf’s check engine light.
So, the Hyundai i20 then. Is it forgettable? Yes. Is it a good car? Well depending on what you want. If you want great driving dynamics and the best looks then first of all why are you shopping for a supermini in the first place? But if you value ease of use, light controls and excellent quality at a reasonable price then yes the i20 is very good indeed. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it even if it is a little on the boring side. But with a new one coming soon is it possible that Hyundai has changed something? We will find out…